BXBX NOVEL Chapter 53 Symbiotic Or Parasitic
"I promised Mr. Ikasa and his people a safe passage to Birch City using our fleet of ships."
Xue Mi spoke with confidence, daring anyone to challenge her decision.
\'So this is why she is good at negotiations, but becomes embarrassed when flirted with. She has been practicing her skills on old fogies!\'
Ikasa realized. He felt reassured by her confidence. On the other side of the table, Patriarch Xue also breathed a sigh of relief.
He had thought of many disastrous demands Ikasa could make; Asking Xue Family to stand against Li Family, Taking over some business of Xue Family, or asking for Xue Mi\'s hand in marriage.
\'Maybe the matrimony might not be such a bad idea,\' Patriarch Xue thought as he rubbed his smooth chin while waiting for Xue Mi to answer.
That is why he was oddly disappointed yet relieved when he heard the agreed-upon terms. Without even needing to consider it, he immediately agreed to the request.
"We can easily fulfill your request. Is there anything else you need?"
Ikasa looked at the setting sun outside. It was nearing his dinner time. He was reminded of the wishlist.
"Isn\'t The Four Seasons Restaurant, Xue Family\'s business? Can I book a VIP room for tonight?"
VIP rooms were exclusive to the Prestigious Families of this City. To get one, he would have to bribe quite a few people and even then, there was no guarantee he would get it.
Since the Patriarch of the Xue Family was the one asking, he could accept this small favor and reciprocate it in the future.
The Patriarch did not answer but he looked at the beautiful lady sitting to his left. Her face may have wrinkled due to time, but her skin still had a healthy glow.
\'Judging from her sharp facial features and cold aura, she might be a tsundere.\'
Ikasa mused while waiting for her answer.
"I will open a room for you, Mr. Ikasa. And of course, this meal will be on the house."
Patriarch Xue nodded, approving of her gesture.
"Someone will contact you with the details of your Ship. I assume you want to leave the city sooner rather than later, correct?"
Ikasa nodded.
"I have sixty people with me. So please provide me with a ship that can bring all of us with our cargo to Birch City."
Patriarch Xue took a moment to think. That\'s when the third elder chimed in.
"We can offer the Sinking for use. It has not been in use since we captured it."
Then he turned to Ikasa and explained when he saw his sour face from hearing the name.
"Sinking is a wordplay on the words Sin King and sinking. It is a pirate ship that has sunk many of the merchant\'s vessels."
It was still not a satisfactory solution, but beggars can\'t be choosers.
"Now that we have found a solution to your problem, let\'s talk about your proposal to give us Cultivation manual business."
The Fourth Elder, who was a middle-aged woman with a shrewd face, spoke.
"It is exactly as I said. If you are willing to offer me a 60/40 ratio like the one for Battle Technique Manuals, you can have exclusive access to my manuals."
"We cannot offer you forty percent just for providing the manuals. Please give us a reasonable offer."
The Fourth elder argued and downplayed Ikasa\'s importance to the deal.
"You sure make good jokes, Elder. Without my manuals, you won\'t have anything to sell. So I should be the one to demand Sixty percent instead of Forty. Considering it is you who will do the sales work, I gave you face and offered a larger share of sixty percent."
Ikasa very bluntly expressed that he was the one with cards. If Xue Family wanted a deal, they better play according to his rules.
They had reached a stalemate, and all the other elders were looking with interest. The First Elder and Patriarch Xue stared at Fourth Elder, and she crumbled under pressure.
"Mr. Ikasa, in order for our cooperation to be successful, the deal should be mutually beneficial. How about a 70-30 distribution? We keep 70 percent and offer you 30 percent?"
Ikasa took a second to think about it and shook his head.
"Elder, you are right. Our deal should be symbiotic to be successful. If you force my profits to below 40 percent, you are being parasitic in this deal."
The both of them stewed in silence, neither willing to back down. Fourth Elder was visibly tense. Ikasa was also feeling the heat, but his years of experience kicked in. Thus, he managed to stay calm.
At this time, another female voice spoke up on behalf of the Xue Family.
"You had the Li family as a risk factor back then. Now you are free of that burden but we will be facing them now. Shouldn\'t you give us that extra 10%?"
Xue Mi teamed up with the Fourth Elder to secure a better deal for her family.
Ikasa thought for a while and relented. He would have to lose the entire customer base of Sal City if he didn\'t budge. It is better to earn 30% of gold and a continuous supply of Cultivation Points.
Still, he wouldn\'t be Ikasa if he did not secure some extra benefits for himself.
"Fine. In return, you have to compensate me with a Mansion for my residence in Birch City."
Xue Mi looked to her father. His eyebrows were furrowed. He was calculating the profits and risks.
Ikasa decided to throw in his mansion in Sal City to sweeten the deal as he will not be needing it.
"Fine, Deal!"
Patriarch Xue agreed to let go of one of his properties in Birch City. After some small talk to acquaint himself with other Elders, Ikasa took his leave.
When Ikasa was boarding a carriage, Feng Yan was having trouble coaxing some of the stubborn families. They were not responding well to his attempts of persuasion.